For the fifth straight time since the FEI Dressage Nations Cup began in Wellington, Fla., in 2013, Germany took the title in the Starpoint Dancesport team competition that drew squads from five countries on Thursday.
Germany earned 207.022 points while silver went to the Dutta Corp. U.S. team with 201.565 points. Sweden’s 190.761 points earned bronze.
Individually, Germany’s Evelyn Eger was first with a new personal best of 70.435% on Tabledance 3, a daughter of Totilas. Swedish Olympic veteran Tinne Vilhelmsen Silfven was second with 70.304 percent on Hyatt. The top two were the only riders to break 70 percent.
The best American score belonged to Devon Kane on Vamos, fifth with 67.435 percent. Her husband, Kevin Kohmann, was right behind her on Giulietta with 67.304.
Devon Kane and Vamos, the top-scoring U.S. combination. (©Avery Wallace/US Equestrian)
After a rough beginning, where Devon thought her distracted horse started trending on 22 percent, the combination “pulled our way up from there, so I knew we had to catch as many points as we could and make every movement count,” she said. “I’m proud that my horse was able to overcome such a setback.
“It’s an honor to be able to represent the U.S. at any Nations Cup, but to do so with your husband next to you, cheering for you and riding with you is extremely special,” added Devon, who was helped into her new team jacket by her husband before the class..
She produced both Vamos and Giulietta from young horses, and noted having them be part of the team is “a testament to our commitment to the sport and to helping each other and our team do well.
“This is both Vamos and Giulietta’s first year of CDI, so to be trusted for the U.S. team and to do what we did today makes us very proud. Today was very special.”
Germany’s chef d’equipe, Michael Klimke, also rode on the squad, but noted his horse wasn’t at his best. The other riders made up for it, however.
“Team spirit is very important, and we all have the feeling we can rely on and trust each other,” Michael explained.
Australia and Canada also participated, but as they had only three members on their teams, and each had one rider who was eliminated, their scores did not count.
In the 3-star Starpoint Dancesport FEI freestyle Friday night at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, Evelyn was again the winner with a personal best of 77.235 percent to tunes by Shakira. Evelyn, who rides for Hof Kasselman, has ridden 12-year-old Tabledance since she was seven and brought her up through the levels.
Another German rider, Felicitas Hendricks on Drombusch OLD, earned silver with a total of 75.13 percent. She rode to disco music; the only wrinkle in the performance was a kick out on the final centerline.
Devon, who led the U.S. silver medal team placing on Thursday, took bronze on Vamos with a very close score of 75.125.
“This is our third freestyle under the lights, and when he walks out at night, he walks out different,” said Devon, whose music was techno swing from the Gatsby movie.
“He really enjoys the dancing and the music and he knows exactly what’s happening. He lights up and he’s game-on from the start.”
The class was a qualifer for the new U.S. Equestrian Open of Dressage, which has a final in November. Click here for team results; click this link for freestyle results.